Keep It Budget-Friendly: 6 Summer Friend Dates That Won’t Break the Bank

Summer is always full of activities and outdoor fun, but all those extra outings can put a serious strain on your wallet. A new survey even shows that more than half of Americans say they overspend when out with friends, and despite regretting it, many think they need to spend money in order to have fun.

As someone who’s had her fair share of penny-pinching summers, I know that’s not true, but the FOMO can be real this time of year. Being on a budget while your friends book pricey concert tickets, go to yoga festivals, and head out for fancy drinks or dinner after work can quickly make you feel like the odd one out.

But rather than constantly turning down invitations, I like to take the initiative to offer up less expensive options to keep my friendships afloat. Summer can be expensive, but it absolutely doesn’t have to be. In fact, it’s the best time of year to indulge in a variety of cheap or free friend dates, so you can enjoy the company of your besties without breaking the bank.

Here are six solid plans you could float to your friend group today:

1. Take a hike

Longer daylight hours and warm weather make summer the perfect time of year to get out for a hike. I love catching up with my friends over a long meandering walk through the woods. You can do a few miles in the same amount of time it takes to lounge over dinner in a restaurant — and get in all the beneficial bonding time you crave.

As a bonus, walking helps build your memory muscles so you’ll be more likely to remember the details of your conversations with friends. And you don’t have to be in great shape to take a hike. You can use an app like AllTrails to find the perfect length and intensity of hike for your friend group.

2. Host a movie night

I cannot, and I mean cannot, stress how much fun an at-home movie night can be. You can choose a nostalgic flick, get cozy in your pajamas, and bring on the microwave popcorn. Have everyone bring their favorite “movie theater” snacks to share to really get the vibe right (mine are Red Vines and Junior Mints).

If you or a friend has an outdoor projector, take movie night outside and sit under the stars on a picnic blanket. Some of my favorite summer flicks? “Dirty Dancing,” “The Sandlot,” and “The Notebook” are just a few if you want to keep the summer theme going.

3. Break out the board games

A good, old-fashioned game night really breaks up the monotony of going out for drinks or dinner (and it’s cheaper too!). Have everyone bring some snacks or drinks and settle in for some competitive fun.

Take some classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Clue and enjoy them on the patio (if you have some shade), get a game of cornhole going, or head to the park for a volleyball, basketball, or tennis tournament with friends. Twister is an evergreen favorite that’s great out on the lawn, and croquet is a great option for a big group.

4. Cook together

I love to do a potluck dinner, but there’s something even more special about cooking with your friends rather than just bringing all the different parts of a meal together. One of my favorite friend dates is taking a cooking class, but those can be really expensive. Instead, pull together a fun meal from ingredients at the farmers market or take your culinary skills outside as you each fire something up on the grill. At the end of the night you get to have dinner and a new set of cooking skills to add to your repertoire.

5. Karaoke night

While you may end up at a bar for this one, the real fun is free (as long as you don’t need too much liquid courage to sing in front of strangers). Karaoke nights are a friend-date classic and generally the drinks, if you choose to partake, are cheaper here than at the upscale bars you might otherwise go out to for a summer evening.

Country bars with line dancing are another favorite cheap friend date of mine. Many offer lessons for a low cover charge, and then you can dance the night away with your new skills. Check out what’s available in your area and try something new!

6. Check out a museum

While museums often charge a high entry fee, many offer free or reduced days that you can look up in advance. But my favorite secret? You can use your local library to get free or discounted museum tickets (and sometimes park passes and other cool event entry tickets). Many have great exhibit changes for the summer season, plus there’s the perk of AC to hang out in for hours. Just check out the services your local library offers, and plan a friend date based on the free tickets you can get with your library card.

There are so many ways to enjoy time with your friends this summer without busting your budget, whether you’re the wine-and-dine types or an adventure-seeking outdoorsy group. And truth be told? The cheaper friend dates are often the most memorable because they break you out of your regular habits and give you new experiences to bond over. Try it!